Best time of year to plant tomatoes
Growing Tomato Plants | General Planting & Growing Tips – Bonnie Plants
Learn how to grow tomatoes. Get tips about growing tomatoes in the ground, raised beds, or containers. Care for tomato plants from planting to harvesting.
Choosing tomato varieties can be confusing because there are so many, so use our Tomato Chooser to help you pick the best for your garden. Our article "Learn Tomato Terms" explains some basic (but important) tomato terms, such as hybrid, indeterminate vs. determinate, and VFN (disease resistance). It's a good idea to grow a range of varieties, including at least one or two disease-resistant types, since, of all veggies, tomatoes tend to be the most susceptible to disease.
How to Plant and Care for Tomatoes
- Tomatoes run on warmth; plant in late spring and early summer except in zone 10, where they are a fall and winter crop.
- For a head start on growing, plant starter plants instead of seeds. Choose young tomato plants from Bonnie Plants®, a company that has spent over 100 years helping home gardeners grow their best gardens.
- Devote a prime, sunny spot to growing tomatoes. Tomatoes need at least 6 to 8 hours of sun to bring out their best flavors.
- You will need to stake, trellis, or cage most tomato plants to keep them off the ground. Decide on a support plan before you set out your plants, then add that support directly after planting.
- Give each plant enough room to grow. Space robust, long-vined, indeterminate varieties about 3 feet apart. Stockier determinate plants can be grown 2 feet apart. Improve the planting area by mixing in a few inches of high quality garden soil, like aged compost-enriched Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose In-Ground Soil, with the top layer of existing soil. If growing in containers, you'll need at least a 24-inch pot for an indeterminate variety, or an 18-inch pot for a determinate variety. Be sure to fill containers with premium potting mix, such as Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose Container Mix, for best growth.
- Tomatoes take up nutrients best when the soil pH ranges from 6.
2 to 6.8, and they need a constant supply of major and minor plant nutrients. To provide needed nutrients, mix a continuous-release fertilizer with calcium, like Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules, into the soil as you prepare the planting holes. Continue feeding during the growing season as the label directs. This will help protect fruit from blossom end rot, a problem that can occur when the plant isn't getting enough calcium. - At the same time, mix in 3 to 4 inches of compost, which will provide minor nutrients and help hold moisture and fertilizer in the soil until it is needed by the plants.
- To grow a really strong tomato plant, we recommend burying two-thirds of the stem when planting. This crucial step will allow the plant to sprout roots along the buried stem, so your plant will be stronger and better able to find water in a drought. Please note that this deep-planting method only works with tomatoes (and tomatillos), not other veggies.
- Immediately after planting, water seedlings to help settle them in.
- You can combine fast-maturing varieties with special season-stretching techniques to grow an early crop, but wait until the last frost has passed to plant main-season tomatoes.
- Cover the ground with 2 to 4 inches of mulch to minimize weeds and help keep the soil evenly moist. Straw and shredded leaves make great mulches for tomatoes.
- Water regularly, aiming for at least an inch of moisture per week (through rain or watering), more in the summertime. Feel the soil; if the top inch is dry, it's time to water.
How to Troubleshoot Tomato Problems
- As summer heats up, some tomatoes have trouble setting fruit. Be patient, and you will start seeing little green tomatoes again when nights begin cooling down. Meanwhile, promptly harvest ripe tomatoes to relieve stressed plants of their heavy burden. If you live in an area in which summertime temperatures are typically in the 90s, be sure to choose some heat-tolerant tomato varieties, bred for their ability to set fruit under high temperatures.
- If summer droughts are common in your area, or you tend to forget to water, use soaker hoses, drip irrigation, or other drought-busting techniques to help maintain even soil moisture. Not only will this help prevent cracked fruits, but also help keep blossom end rot at bay. (Moisture fluctuations can reduce the amount of calcium the plant is able to take up, which can lead to blossom end rot.)
- Humid weather creates ideal conditions for fungal diseases like early blight, which causes dark spots to first form on lower leaves. Be sure to remove any unhealthy looking or diseased leaves throughout the season. Late blight is a more devastating disease that kills plants quickly; the only way to control it is to protect against it by spraying the leaves with an approved fungicide such as chlorothalonil or copper, and to keep the garden clean of plant debris.
- You'll also want to be on the lookout for pests. In mid-summer, for example, big green caterpillars called tomato hornworms eat tomato foliage and sometimes damage fruits.
One or two hornworms can strip a plant leafless in short order! Deal with pests as soon as you spot them. - By late summer, plants that began producing early in the season will show signs of exhaustion. With just a little effort, you can extend the life of those sad tomato plants by pruning away withered leaves and branches. Then follow up with liquid plant food and treatments for leaf diseases or insects, if needed.
- Check out our article on Tomato Quirks for more troubleshooting information
How to Harvest and Store Tomatoes
- As tomatoes begin to ripen, their colour changes from vibrant medium-green to a lighter shade, with faint pink or yellow blushing. These "breakers," or mature green tomatoes, can be chopped into salsas, pickled, or pan-fried into a crispy appetizer. Yet tomato flavours become much more complex as the fruits ripen, so you have good reason to wait. The exact signs of ripeness vary with variety, but in general, perfectly ripe tomatoes show deep colour yet still feel firm when gently squeezed.
- Store picked tomatoes at room temperature indoors, or in a shady place outside. Never refrigerate tomatoes, because temperatures below 55° cause the precious flavour compounds to break down.
- Bumper crops can be frozen, canned, or dried for future use.
They are so sweet that they might all get eaten in the meantime. Seriously.FAQs
Your plant tags say to plant tomatoes deep: two-thirds of the plant underground. Is that really a good practice?
Yes, we recommend this because the more plant you put under the soil, the better the root system. The buried stem of a tomato plant will sprout roots. However, this is not true for all vegetables, only tomatoes and tomatillos.
The tag says full sun, but in Arizona with temperatures reaching over the 100 degree mark, is that going to be an issue with this plant?
We recommend that you give your tomatoes some afternoon shade in summer. They need some relief.
What is meant by "maturity is reached in __ days"?
The maturity is the number of days from planting the seedling until the fruit is ready to pick. This varies a little with weather and region, but the "days to maturity" is a good way to see what will be ready early, mid, and late season.
What size cage should I use for my tomato plants?
Most tomatoes work best with a 5- to 6-foot trellis, stake, or cage.
Buy the largest cage possible or make your own from concrete reinforcement wire. The vines of indeterminate tomatoes can get longer than 6 feet, but just let them climb to the top and droop over and down if that doesn't bother you. Otherwise, you'll be harvesting with a ladder!
When the plant says full sun, what exactly does that mean?
Full sun means no shade all day, but in many cases in the summer, that’s too much. In hot climates, herbs and some vegetables appreciate a little shade in the mid to late afternoon.
Is it a good idea to always stake or cage my tomatoes?
Yes. Staking tomatoes helps to increase yield and prevent rotting and diseases.
Can I plant one tomato plant in a five-gallon bucket on my patio? How large should the container be for a tomato?
Yes, a 5-gallon container is the minimum size for a tomato plant. A container should be at least 18 inches wide at the top for a tomato, preferably 24 inches for an indeterminate tomato plant.
Also, make sure your container has drainage holes.
What do the letters VFFN stand for in the names of your tomatoes?
These letters represent problems that a variety resists, which means that it should not succumb to the problem. V=Verticillium wilt, F and FF=Fusarium wilt races 1 and 2, A= Alternaria leaf spot. The N is for nematode resistance; nematodes are not a disease, they are tiny eel-like pests that ruin roots. There are other designations, too, which are included in the tomato variety descriptions in our online plant catalog.
Is there such a thing as nematode-resistant tomato plants?
Yes, many varieties are resistant to nematodes. Look for the "N" after the name, which stands for nematode resistance. To find these varieties, check the catalog section of our website. Our tomato descriptions list plants' resistance to nematodes and other problems.
Should I be pruning off the lower branches of my tomato plants? How far off of the ground should the lower branches be?
Pruning is not necessary, but some people do it to keep soil that might harbor diseases from splashing up on the leaves; 12 to 18 inches from the ground ought to do it.
Is it true that pinching off the flowers on the tomato plant helps it to produce more fruit?
It will not help production, but it could increase the size of the tomatoes left on the vine by a little bit.
I just planted my tomatoes and found out that it is too early. Should I put something over them to protect them at night?
Your tomatoes should be okay if you cover them to protect them from frost and cold, strong wind. Don't let the foliage touch the cover unless it is a material that doesn’t transfer the cold easily, such as bonded polyester row cover, a cardboard box, or a blanket. Avoid metal cans or plastic unless it does not touch the plants.
What causes tomatoes to turn black on the bottom?
They call that blossom end rot. It is thought to be caused by lack of calcium and drought stress. One way to add calcium is to lime the soil. This will help future crops. To help the current crop, purchase a calcium solution, such as Stop-rot, that you spray on the plants.
Do I have to replant tomatoes every year, or do the plants come back when the time is right?
Tomatoes are annuals that are killed by frost. They need to be replanted each year.
Caring for Tomatoes Growing Techniques Growing Tomatoes Planting Tomatoes Staking Tomatoes Tomatoes Urban Gardening Vegetables
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When to Plant Tomatoes | Gardener’s Path
It can be confusing to try to figure out the right time to start tomatoes.
If you wait too long to plant them you may not have enough time in the season to harvest a full crop. But on the other hand, if you start them too early you might risk stunting or even killing the plants.
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There are a few key factors that go into determining the optimal start time for growing tomatoes.
Read on to learn how to calculate the best time for planting tomatoes in your climate. This article will help you figure out how early to start seeds indoors as well as when and how to transplant seedlings to the garden.
What You’ll Learn
- Calculate Your Optimal Planting Date
- Temperature
- Sunshine
- Days to Maturity
- When to Start Seeds Indoors
- Planting in the Garden
- Planting Tips for Abundant Harvests
Growing tomatoes is an investment.
Whether you are spending good money on nursery stock or putting in the time and energy it takes to grow them from seed, you certainly don’t want to risk ruining your crop by planting too early or too late.
If you really want a stellar harvest of juicy, sweet fruits, it is important to get the timing right.
To figure out the best time to start tomato seeds and plants, it is helpful to first figure out when you plan to plant them outside in the garden and work backwards.
Calculate Your Optimal Planting Date
First and foremost, you absolutely need to wait until after the last expected frost date according to your USDA Hardiness Zone.
I know from unfortunate experience that this can be hard to do. But even if you have an unseasonably warm stretch of weather in the spring, do not be tempted to plant early!
Tomatoes are true warm-weather crops. If you plant them too soon, you risk killing them. Even if early transplants survive a few unexpected frosty nights, their growth may be stunted and struggling plants will be more susceptible to pests and disease.
So if you pay attention to nothing else, be sure to check the expected last frost date for your growing zone and wait until after that date to plant.
If you are unsure of your growing zone, you can use this tool from the USDA to determine your hardiness zone and climate based on your zip code.
When you’re looking at first and last frost dates, keep in mind that these dates are just ranges based on the average for your growing zone.
Since we all live in unique microclimates, it is always a good idea to keep a yearly garden journal with your own data on frost dates.
While this is an important starting point, if you really want to pinpoint the perfect starting time, there are several additional important factors to consider.
Temperature
For tomatoes to grow well, nighttime temperatures should be consistently above 50°F. Additionally, it is best to wait to plant until soil temperatures are around 60°F.
If you don’t have a soil thermometer, a makeshift method is to stick your finger a couple of inches into the soil.
If you are unable to keep it there comfortably for a minute, the soil is likely still too cold.
You can spread a layer of thick mulch or black plastic out in the garden to help the soil warm faster in the spring.
Sunshine
In addition to warm temperatures, these plants need adequate sunshine to be happy.
Before planting them, make sure the sun is high enough in the sky for enough of the day for the site to receive at least six hours of full sun exposure.
The only exception to this is for gardeners in very hot climates, where some shade – particularly in the afternoon – can be helpful to protect plants on scorching days.
Days to Maturity
So this is where things can get a tad more complicated. While it is true it may be safe enough to plant immediately after the last frost, waiting a few extra weeks until the temperatures have warmed and the days are longer may result in healthier, happier plants.
Some varieties take a long time to mature, though, and it is equally important to make sure there are enough warm days for plants to produce fruit before they are harmed by fall frosts.
Looking at the number of “days to maturity” on the back of your seed packets will help you to determine the ideal planting window for your growing zone.
First, figure out when the first frost of fall is expected for your region. Count backwards from this date, using the number of days to maturity listed on the seed packet or plant tag.
You can safely plant tomatoes in the garden between the last frost of spring and this date.
For instance, I live in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b with an average first frost date of September 25th and last frost around May 21st. Let’s say I have a packet of seeds that says “90 days to maturity.”
Counting backwards from September 25th by 90 days, I would need to plant seedlings out in the garden after May 21st but before June 27th.
The safest bet would be to find a date in that window with some wiggle room on either side, such as the first weekend in June.
There is a wide range of growing times for tomatoes and many varieties to choose from.
Some cultivars mature in 50 days while others can take up to 100 days to harvest.
You can use this information to select cultivars based on a number of days to maturity that will work well with your growing zone.
Photo credit: F-Focus by Mati Kose / Shutterstock.comIf you live in a cold climate or get a late start on your garden, choose a variety with a shorter number of days to maturity.
Now that you know when to plant tomatoes in the garden, you can use this information to determine when to start seeds indoors.
When to Start Seeds Indoors
There is some debate on how early to start tomato seeds indoors. It is typically recommended to start them six to eight weeks before transplanting outside.
Many gardeners, however, choose to start even earlier, up to 12 weeks before the expected transplant date, to give their seedlings extra time to grow before planting them out.
While this may give you a head start on the season, starting too early can also mean you risk stressing and stunting young plants.
Often, the smallest seedlings I plant out in the garden are the ones that grow the largest and strongest.
How early to start may vary depending on the climate of your indoor growing space as well as the selected cultivar.
If you have a warm, humid space with lots of light, seedlings are likely to germinate faster and six weeks may be enough. Ideal temperatures for starting tomatoes are between 65 and 85°F. In this temperature range, seeds should germinate in a week or so.
If you don’t have a warm, bright space to start your seeds, or if you have a really short growing season, starting even earlier can be advantageous.
Start seeds in two- to four-inch pots in a lightweight seed starting mix, covering the seeds with a quarter-inch of soil. Mist and keep the soil moist until sprouts appear.
Set your containers in a warm location or on a heat mat, covered with a humidity dome if you have one to speed germination.
Once the seeds have germinated, remove the lid and place your pots in a sunny window or under grow lights for 10 to 14 hours a day.
Using artificial grow lights is especially helpful if you choose to start seeds on the early side when days are still short.
Keep the soil moist but not soggy. The best method for watering tomato seedlings is bottom watering.
Set the pots in a tray and add half an inch of water to the bottom every few days when the soil feels dry. Let the roots soak up the water for 10 minutes or so, then dump out any excess water from the tray.
Once they have developed a few sets of true leaves, transplant to four- to six-inch containers.
Whenever you transplant tomatoes, you want to sink them low enough in the pot that you bury the lower third of the stem in soil. This will encourage them to grow more roots, resulting in stronger, more robust plants.
If you started seeds early, you may need to repot a second time in even larger pots before they are ready to be planted out. It is important not to let them become rootbound.
Harden off the seedlings once soil temperatures have reached about 50°F outdoors.
Set the pots in a sheltered location outside for an hour or so, increasing the length of time each day over the course of a week or two until your plants have adjusted to the outdoor conditions.
Planting in the Garden
When at last it is time to plant tomatoes in the garden, find a spot with well-draining soil that receives full sun, or in hot climates, just a little bit of afternoon shade.
Prepare the garden bed by working a few inches of compost into the soil. Dig deep holes 18 to 36 inches apart, burying the bottom two-thirds of each plant so only the topmost leaves are above the soil.
Refill the holes, lightly tamping the soil around each one as you do so.
Water thoroughly and add a few inches of hay or straw mulch around the base of each plant, leaving a few inches bare around the stem.
Depending on variety, you may also need to add cages or stakes as they grow to keep them upright.
Doing this when you plant is an excellent option, to avoid damaging the roots after they have become more established.
You can learn more about growing and caring for tomatoes in our complete guide.
Planting Tips for Abundant Harvests
Since tomatoes really need a few months of summer heat and sunshine for good yields, if you live in a warm climate with a long growing season, it doesn’t hurt to wait a few extra weeks after the last frost before planting them out.
If you have the time and materials, you can start seeds indoors under grow lights as early as 12 weeks before moving them to their permanent location outside, transplanting to larger pots as they grow.
If growing in colder zones, look for varieties with a shorter number of days to maturity.
A layer of black plastic or thick mulch can help the soil to warm up faster. While it is still important to wait until after the last frost, warmer soil will certainly help newly planted tomato seedlings to adapt and grow faster.
Timed to Perfection
So when should you start your tomatoes? It may seem like a simple question initially, but as you can see, the ideal time to plant tomatoes depends on a number of factors.
Though it takes a bit of research and observation to figure out what is best for your garden, once you do, you may find yourself with more healthy and fruitful tomato plants than you know what to do with!
What are your tips for starting tomatoes from seed or transplants? Share your experience in the comments below.
Want to become a tomato gardening expert? Check out these articles next for more useful information:
- How to Store Your Tomato Harvest
- How to Grow Tomatoes in Containers
- How to Make Tomatoes Turn Red When They Refuse to Ripen on the Vine
favorable planting days according to the lunar calendar
Almost all summer residents grow tomatoes - this is perhaps the most popular vegetable. And it is necessary to prepare for sowing already now. We tell you when to plant tomatoes in 2023 according to the lunar calendar
Useful information about tomatoes
| Sowing dates | • Outdoor - March 25 - April 10 |
| Place | Well-lit area |
How to determine the timing of planting in your region
This is one of the main subjects of controversy among summer residents. Some begin to sow seeds for seedlings in late February - early March. Others are waiting for the end of March. But how is it right?
It all depends on where the tomatoes will grow next. If in a greenhouse, seeds should be sown in mid-March. If in the open field - at the end of March or even the beginning of April. You can navigate by the timing of planting: by this time, the seedlings should be 50 - 60 days old.
Auspicious days for sowing tomato seeds for seedlings according to the lunar calendar: April.
What to grow seedlings in
Tomatoes are not afraid of transplanting, moreover, it only benefits them, so you can grow tomato seedlings both in boxes (1) and in cups.
Drawers can save space on the windowsill by holding more plants. But this is not for long - then the tomato seedlings should still be picked in separate cups.
Seedlings in cups take up more space on the windowsill, but in this case, you don't need to dive - you will save time on laborious work.
What kind of soil to use for growing seedlings
The best option is a mixture of peat and humus in a ratio of 2:1.
It is useful to add a liter can of sand to a bucket of such soil. And fertilizers: 2 tbsp. spoons of double superphosphate, 1.5 tbsp. spoons of urea, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of potassium sulfate and 1 cup of ash.
Sow seeds to a depth of 1 - 2 cm.
Is it necessary to dive tomato seedlings
Photo: pixabay.com Summer residents also have a lot of disputes about this, but the meaning is very simple.
If you pinch the central root of a tomato, it begins to actively grow lateral roots, the bush forms a powerful root system that can absorb more nutrients. And the better the food, the higher the yield.
- Tomatoes dive when the seedlings have the first pair of true leaves, - says agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova. - Plants are dug out of a box or taken out of a cup, the earth is carefully removed at the bottom of the clod so that the main root is exposed. It is cut by a third. After that, the tomatoes are planted in separate cups (if they grew in a box) or in larger cups.
This is quite laborious work, so if the tomatoes were originally sown in cups, you can do without picking. What about root pinching? You can not do this. But when planting in the ground, deepen the seedlings of tomatoes along the cotyledon leaves - then additional roots form on the shoot.
If the seedlings are in a box, they can also not dive into cups in order to save space on the windowsill.
And so that the tomatoes do not outgrow much and form more roots, they need to cut the roots.
Root pruning is carried out with an ordinary knife: the soil in the box is cut lengthwise and across, as if it were a pie. In this case, the seedlings should be in the center of each "piece". During the growth of seedlings, it is useful to do 2 - 3 such operations. The first - when the seedlings form a second true leaf, and the last - 4 - 8 days before planting in open ground. The cut lateral roots give new tiny branches. As a result, the area of contact of the roots with the soil increases significantly. This means that the tomato will receive even more nutrients, - explains agronomist Svetlana Mikhailova.
Auspicious days for picking tomato seedlings according to the lunar calendar: 15, 26 - 29, 30 March, 3 - 6, 13, 23 - 26, 30 April.
Tips for caring for tomato seedlings
There are several problems that arise when growing tomato seedlings. Let's take a look at them in detail.
Why seedlings stretch and how to fix it
There are two reasons for this:
1. Not enough light. On the southern and eastern windows, tomato seedlings usually have enough light, but on the northern and western windows they need illumination - special fitolamps, which are sold in garden centers, will do. It is necessary to highlight tomato seedlings 12 hours a day, for example, from 8.00 to 20.00. The lack of light leads to the fact that the seedlings are stretched, grow weak, flowering and fruiting are delayed (2).
2. Too hot. The optimum temperature for tomato seedlings is 18 - 19 °C.
If the apartment is warmer, and usually it happens, the seedlings will quickly outgrow. There is only one way out - to ventilate the premises.
However, there is one more trick - violently growing seedlings can be "pacified" with superphosphate (2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water). Water every 2 weeks.
What to do if there is no space for seedlings on the windowsill
Photo: pixabay.com/Few people know, but tomatoes can be grown without seedlings - sow seeds immediately in open ground or in a greenhouse. But not all tomatoes are suitable for this. Without seedlings, only early varieties can be grown. They are sown at the end of April, after the 20th. And better on warm beds. If there are none, then a few days before sowing, the soil should be covered with any black material so that they warm up.
- In open ground, tomatoes are sown in holes in several pieces. And when the seedlings have 1 - 2 true leaves, they are seated in a permanent place, - recommends agronomist Svetlana Mikhailova.
Crops must be covered with non-woven fabric - otherwise frost will kill them.
Harvest with this method ripens a couple of weeks later. But the plants themselves are more resistant and get sick less, because from a young age they grow in harsh conditions.
Favorable days for planting seedlings at home or in a greenhouse
Tomato seedlings can be planted in greenhouses from mid-April - they are less demanding on heat than peppers and eggplants. But provided that the soil is already well warmed up.
You can speed up the warming up of the soil - pour it with hot water and cover it with a black film - in a week it will be ready for planting tomatoes.
Auspicious days for planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse according to the lunar calendar: May.
Favorable days for planting seedlings in open ground
Tomato seedlings are planted in open ground from the beginning of May - under a film or non-woven fabric.
Without shelter, tomato seedlings can be planted in the garden when the threat of frost has passed - after June 10th. But it’s better to plant it on May 20-25, but in this case you need to make sure that when the temperature drops in the evening, cover the seedlings for the night from possible frost. Plants planted at the end of May yield 30-40% more than those planted at the beginning of June (3).
Auspicious days for planting tomato seedlings in open ground according to the lunar calendar: 1-4, 6, 9-10, 13-14, 18, 20-24, 28-31 May 10 - 11, 14 - 15 June.
Popular questions and answers
Tomatoes are a popular crop, a lot has been written about it, but summer residents always have additional questions. Let's take a look at some of them.
Can I grow tomatoes from my own seeds?
Yes, you can. Tomatoes are self-pollinating plants, by themselves they do not interbreed with their neighbors, so the varieties retain all the characteristics of their parents.
But only varieties - F1 hybrids do not retain their characteristics, they can only be grown from their purchased seeds.
Is it possible to sow tomatoes before winter?
Yes, there is such a technology. In this case, they are sown in open ground in October, immediately after the first frost hits. But not seeds are sown, but whole fruits. At the same time, they need to be planted to such a depth that there is 10 cm from the top of the fruit to the soil surface. For winter, such crops are mulched with dry leaves with a layer of 10–15 cm.
Is it possible to sow tomatoes for seedlings earlier, for example, in February?
Tomatoes grow very quickly, and modern varieties give a harvest quite early, so it makes no sense to sow seeds before the end of March - the seedlings will simply outgrow, stretch out, it will be difficult to transport them to the site, it is problematic to plant, and they get sick longer after transplanting into open ground.
Sources
- Ilyin O.
V. and a group of authors. Vegetable grower's guide // M.: Rosselkhokhizdat, 1979 - 224 p. - Group of authors, ed. Polyanskoy A.M. and Chulkova E.I. Tips for gardeners // Minsk, Harvest, 1970 - 208 p.
- Gavrish S.F. Tomatoes // M.: NIIOZG, publishing house "Scriptorium 2000", 2003 - 184 p.
when to plant tomatoes for seedlings and in the ground - Antonov sad
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January February March April tomato seedlings of tomatoes tomatoes in the open field tomatoes in the greenhouse lunar calendar
Khromov Nikolai Vladimirovich
Tomatoes (tomatoes) All regions
Tomato seedlings are grown to produce tasty and early tomatoes. Often they do not dare to buy seedlings or do it as a last resort, when, for example, their own seedlings failed. Consider today the timing of sowing tomato seeds for seedlings in 2023 in accordance with the lunar calendar, as well as the timing and rules for planting tomato seedlings both in open ground and in a greenhouse.
Table of contents
1. Dates of sowing tomatoes for seedlings by months 2023 2. Lunar calendar for planting tomatoes in 2023 3. soilMeeting the sowing dates will help to grow healthy seedlings (photo by pixabay/thephilippena)
When to plant tomatoes for seedlings
You can sow tomato seed starting from January, and the sowing period lasts until April. Let's take a look at the optimal timing by month and consider why it is necessary to sow tomato seeds in a given month.
Calendar of tomato seedlings in 2023 by months
Most gardeners are guided by the lunar calendar. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the lunar calendar for planting tomato seedlings in 2023 in order to get healthy plants and a good harvest in the future.
| Month | Rules of sowing |
| January | This month can be sowed with seedlings to obtain seedlings only when there is a reliable heated greenhouse at your disposal, in which the level of planting of gates the soil and air are already warmed up. Often in greenhouses, which are intended for the early cultivation of tomatoes, warm beds are made. They consist of organic matter, which, decomposing, heats up the substrate, and it becomes fully suitable for growing tomatoes in the early stages. When growing young plants at home in January, it is important to consider the installation of supplementary lighting, as this winter month is characterized by short days and often cloudy weather. Every gardener should know about this. |
| February | February is a more favorable month for sowing tomato seeds for seedlings. Say, if you sow the seeds on February 1, then the seedlings will need to be planted in the ground at the beginning of April. It is clear that only the southern regions are suitable for this, as well as those areas where there are either heated greenhouses or reliable greenhouses with soil heated by that time. When growing tomato seedlings in February, it is important to provide for the presence of additional lighting. Although the days in February are longer than in January, there is still not enough light, and there are even more cloudy days in February. |
| March | March is the month of mass sowing of tomato seeds. When sown in March, seedlings will be ready for planting in open ground in May, which is often a favorable period for most regions of our country, except perhaps for the cold northern regions. Here, seeds for seedlings are best sown no earlier than mid-March or even the end of the month - this is the most favorable time. |
| April | This month, you can sow the seeds of early maturing varieties in the northern regions, and in others it is already late, here you can sow the seeds directly into the soil of a greenhouse or greenhouse and get seedlings, and then plants that will not require picks or transplants and will begin to bear fruit about two weeks earlier relative to age (when compared with the age from the time of sowing to transplanting seedlings to a permanent place). |
Usually seedlings are ready for planting 60-80 days after sowing seeds in the ground. Knowing this, you can estimate the time when your seedlings will require planting in a permanent place. 
In greenhouses and greenhouses, you can also use warm beds, which by the time the tomato seedlings are planted will already warm the soil well. Planting tomatoes for seedlings according to the lunar calendar in 2023
Well, now let's talk about specific dates, given the lunar calendar, which is followed by a large number of gardeners.
| Month 9000 | Favorable days 9000 9000 | 7, 20, 21, 22 |
| February | 1–3, 24–26, 28 | 19, 20, 21, 5 |
|
| 1–3, 16, 24, 25, 29, 29 30 | 20, 21, 22, 7 |
| April | 4, 5, 13, 22, 26 | 19, 20, 21, 6 |
When to plant tomato seedlings in the greenhouse and open ground
The timing of planting tomato seedlings in the ground or greenhouse depends on the region of cultivation and on biological characteristics - early variety, medium or late.
It is usually possible to understand that seedlings are ready for transplanting to a permanent place by external signs. So, a fully developed seedling has a stalk 0.6–0.8 cm thick, the height of the seedlings ranges from 18 to 28 cm, there are about 7–9 leaves on each plant, sometimes more, but the age of the seedlings, depending on the variety, is from 60 to 80 days.
You need to focus on the climatic features of your region By the time the seedlings are planted, the risk of return frosts should be absent or extremely small, the soil should be warmed up to 9-11 degrees, the air should be warmed above the mark of 13 degrees - the higher, the better the plant will develop. Let's start with planting seedlings in open ground.
- In the South, it can be produced as early as early March, provided that the soil and air in the greenhouse are already warm enough.
- In the middle zone of the country, including the Moscow region, tomato seedlings can be planted in a heated greenhouse starting from April 15th.
If you have at your disposal a greenhouse covered with polycarbonate, then from about May 2–3, but you can plant tomato seedlings in a film greenhouse without much risk from about May 15.
- In harsh regions (this is the North-West, including the Leningrad region, as well as in the Urals and Siberia), tomato seedlings can be planted in a heated greenhouse after April 25 or in early May. In a greenhouse covered with polycarbonate - after May 15, but in a greenhouse with a regular film - not earlier than May 25.
Each region has its own term for planting young tomato plants in the ground
Important
.
As for open ground, there is more risk, therefore, the dates are later, and it is necessary to take into account the ripening time of tomato varieties.
- So, in the south, varieties of early ripening tomatoes can be planted in the ground from April 25 to May 10. Varieties of medium and late - from April 20 to May 5. In the Central Black Earth region, early maturing varieties are planted in the ground when the risk of return frosts is minimal, that is, from May 25 to June 10.
Varieties of medium and late are planted, as a rule, from May 20 to May 25.
- In the central zone of the country, early ripening tomato varieties are planted in open ground from June 1 to June 10, and medium and late - from May 25 to June 5. In the Urals and Siberia, early varieties of tomato are planted from June 5 to June 10, and medium and late - from June 1 to June 8.
- In the Far East, medium and late varieties are usually grown only in a greenhouse, and early varieties are usually planted from June 10 to June 20.
When planting in a greenhouse, consider the material from which it is made
How to plant tomato seedlings in the ground
Seedlings must be hardened off before planting, usually the hardening is carried out for a week or a little more, gradually placing it in more severe conditions. Landing is best done, in order to avoid sunburn, either in the morning hours - from 10 to 12 noon, or in the late afternoon - from 15 to 17 hours of the day.
Tip.
Plant tomato seedlings strictly vertically, do not bend or break parts of the root system. Landing is carried out in wells prepared in advance and well moistened.
- Place seedlings in the center of the hole, fill it with soil and compact the soil well by pressing it all around with your fingers.
- In the case when the seedlings are very elongated, it is allowed to plant them obliquely, placing them along the row and covering the stems with soil. Additional roots are formed on them and further the plants will fully develop.
- After planting, seedlings should not be watered for at least three days, even if they have died, there is nothing wrong with that. During this period, the formation of the suction root system, which is necessary for the full development of plants, takes place.
- As for the planting scheme, usually between plants leave from 45 to 55 cm, and between rows - from 60 to 70 cm.
and a greenhouse, and also mentioned the subtleties that you must know.
